Calif. Woman Becomes 'Disposable Spouse'

LOS ANGELES – Carol and Warren Rosendale seemed to be living a charmed life: one of beautiful homes, glamorous vacations and millions in the bank. But all that changed in a few horrifying seconds.

Carol got into a terrible multi-car accident, and she was initially pronounced dead. Ultimately, she survived — but was left with a crushed skull, brain damage and other crippling injuries.

It also was the beginning of the end of her marriage. Warren, her husband of 10 years, filed for divorce just two years after the accident, citing irreconcilable differences.

Though Warren has helped pay her medical expenses, a prenuptial agreement (search) Carol signed has protected him from paying spousal support. So his ex-wife has taken him to court.

"It's unconscionable to walk away from a marriage that you've contracted to be in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live in light of the disability and to walk away without having to provide anything for the spouse's support," Carol said.

And an appeals court seems to agree with her. In a landmark decision a judge decided not to enforce the prenup, saying Warren couldn't cast Carol off like a "disposable spouse."

Warren's lawyers have rejected the ruling and claim it won't stand. They've appealed the decision to the California Supreme Court (search), which still hasn't decided whether to take the case.

Click on the video link near the top of this story to watch a report by FOX News' Trace Gallagher.